7.2.3) Young's Double Slit Experiment

Interference effects observed in the early 1800s

were instrumental in supporting a concept of the

existence of which property of light?

• Polarization

• Particle nature

• Wave nature

• Electromagnetic character

Which of the following figures represent is a double

slit interference pattern?

• A

• B

• C

• D

What does one observe on the screen in a Young's experiment if white light illuminates the double slit instead of light of a single wavelength?

• A white central fringe and no other fringes

• A dark central fringe and a series of alternating white and dark fringes on each side of the center

• A white central fringe and a series of colored and dark fringes on each side of the center

• A continuous band of colors with no dark fringes anywhere

In a Young's double slit experiment, green light is incident on the two slits. The interference pattern is observed on a screen. Which one of the following changes would cause the fringes to be more closely spaced?

• Reduce the slit separation distance

• Use red light instead of green light

• Use blue light instead of green light

• Move the screen farther away from the slits

Monochromatic coherent light shines through a pair of slits. If the distance between these slits is decreased, which of the following statements is/are true of the resulting interference pattern?

A. The distance between the maxima stays the same

B. The distance between the maxima decreases

C. The distance between the maxima increases

• A

• B

• C

Monochromatic coherent light shines through a pair of slits. If the wavelength of the light is decreased, which of the following statements is/are true of the resulting interference pattern?

A. The distance between the maxima stays the same

B. The distance between the maxima decreases

C. The distance between the maxima increases

• A

• B

• C

In a double-slit interference experiment you are asked to use laser light of different wavelengths and determine the separation between adjacent maxima. You observe that this separation is greatest when you illuminate the double slit with _____.

• blue light

• green light

• yellow light

• red light

What do we mean when we say that two light

rays striking a screen are in phase with each other?

• When the electric field due to one is a maximum, the electric field due to the other is also a maximum, and this relation is maintained as time passes

• They are traveling at the same speed

• They have the same wavelength

• They alternately reinforce and cancel each other

Two light sources are said to be coherent if they are ______.

• of the same frequency

• of the same frequency, and maintain a constant phase difference

• of the same amplitude, and maintain a constant phase difference

• of the same frequency and amplitude

Two beams of coherent light start out at the same

point in phase and travel different paths to arrive at

point 𝑃. If the maximum constructive interference is

to occur at point 𝑃, the two beams must travel paths

that differ by _______.

• a whole number of wavelengths

• a whole number of half-wavelengths

• an odd number of wavelengths

• an odd number of half-wavelengths